Evaluate the following expression

Explanation

We read \(\left(-\frac23\right)^2\) as "negative two-thirds raised to the second power," or as "negative two-thirds squared."

Since the exponent is 2, write the base, \(-\frac23\), as a factor 2 times

$\left(-\frac23\right)^2 = \left(-\frac23\right) \left(-\frac23\right)$  

The product of two fractions with like signs is positive:  Drop the - signs.  Multiply the numerators.  Multiply the denominators

$= \frac{2 \cdot 2}{3 \cdot 3} = \frac49$